The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1887-06-04

Ine state always acknowledged It's de-
pendence upon the church, and it was
therefore fitting that upon an occasion
of this kind The Commonwealth should
be represented. The more the citizens
were equipped, the more they we're dis
posed by reason of the influences of
religious organizations, toward meeting
the requirements of good citizenship,
the less necessity there was for the
exercise Of Governmental authority
over them or in regard to them. Three
ideas seemed to him to be embraced
and blended in the name of the organ
ization at whose table he sat-the first
word, Universalist, indicated the denom-
nation, the second suggested the social
character of the organization and the
third suggested the value of associated
effort. In these later days people were
recognizing the great truth that the
more facilities for social pleasure were
furnished in the church organizations
the more attractive those organizations
were made, and by so much the tempta-
tion to people to go elsewhere for their
pleasures was removed.
Rev. DR.. Capen, of Tufts College,
was the next speaker, and after his
address and couple of songs by the
Ladies' Schubert Quartette, Hon.
Halsey j. Boardman, President Of the
Senate, was introduced. Mr.. Boardman
spoke of his hesitation in speaking be-
fore so many ministers, especially in
Anniversary Week. He did not believe,
he said, that any other than Univer-
salist denomination could have prevail
ed upon him to say word under those
circumstances. He had always had a
sort Of home feeling among Universal
lists. 1t might fairly be said that even
the most fanatic or bigoted denomina-
tions, when they saw how much and
how advantageously their tenets had
softened during few generations past,
must admit to certain extent their
Indebtedness to the Universalist denom-
ination. The very fact of mans
being humane had certain determina-
tive tendency toward the creed which
he might espouse. A mans creed was
made up of himself and the Bible, of
the idea which he drew from the Bible,
and the idea which was drawn from that
source was in no small sense influenced
and formulated BY the sort of man that
he was he did not Know, he c6ntInued,
that anything could arrest the decad-
ence that certainly prevailed in some
localities, unless the social element were
blended with the more strict religious
exercises. In order to keep the church
together the Social Union was all that
union implied. He believed that no
denomination could have brighter
future than the Universalist denomina
tion, of which the feeling always was
one of its broad and pervading humanity
in all matters.
The President read letter of regret
from Rev. Almon Gunnison, of Brook
lyn, and then introduced Rev. E. A.
Horton, of the Second Church in Boston
as the next speaker, who made one of
his pleasing and vigorous speeches.
Another song by the quartet, and
then Hon. III. B. Peirce, Secretary of
State, was presented. ibid you ever
hear of the barefooted Irishman who
said he liked to stub his toe because he
felt so good when it was done aching?"
asked Mr.. Peirce. 1.-THE only thing
which reconciles me to attempting to
make speech is that 1 feel such a
relief when 1 have done with it," he
continued, land dare say that have
never spoken anywhere yet where the
audience did not share in the relief" :"
He said that no one could appreciate
the pleasure there was in getting up on
one of these occasions unless he had
been there himself. He interspersed
his subsequent remarks very extensively
with stories, which kept his audience
in almost continual laughter. Univer-
salists, he thought, ought to be the best
of people because of their belief.
Mr.. B. B. Whittemore, President Of
the Universalist Club, brought congra-
tulations from the sister organization.
The gathering was also addressed by
Rev. G. w. Biddle, d. D., of North
Cambridge, and Rev. A. A. Miner, DID.
This reception and festival closed the
exercises of the notable and interesting
Week. We congratulate Boston on the
revival of these anniversary meetings,
and ask again the question we proposed
last year, Why cannot Chicago have an
Anniversary Week? We have all the
elements for just such series of meet
ings. Why not combine them, and
make the last week in May notable
each year in similar way2
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